Concert: Brandon Lopez, Xenga

Brandon Lopez (NY) - deemed "The Ubiquitous Free Improv Bass Ace" by the Village Voice and said to play with a "Bruising Physicality" by the Chicago reader was born and raised in the splendors of Northwestern New Jersey, in the shadow of the (New York) city. It was there that he cultivated a taste for the left of center musics and subsequently, dug graves.

He's currently leads a trio dubbed "The Mess", another one called the Brandon Lopez Trio, works as a soloist and is formerly/currently/latterly writing more and more music. Like many musicians of the period, he attended conservatory. New England Conservatory to be exact.

Xenga (VA/MD) - Years of collaboration between Jarrett Gilgore (reeds) & Ian McColm (drums) generate a constant reassessment of the classic free-jazz duo of sax and drums. Xenga takes this porous form and introduces a wide range of influences ranging from heavy metal to North African trance music. Gilgore and McColm strive to contribute new sounds and structures to the creative music canon using a variety of techniques developed over years of experimentation.

Stalwarts of the Baltimore-Washington improvised music scene, Gilgore & McColm have performed and collaborated with an array of international talent including Dave Rempis, Paul Giallorenzo, Jaimie Branch, and Washington DC’s own, Luke Stewart.

The night will end with a first-time ever collaborative set between these two acts!